When aspiring music journalist Ren Kingston
takes a job nannying for a wealthy family on the exclusive island of Nantucket,
playground for Boston's elite, she's hoping for a low-key summer reading books
and blogging about bands. Boys are firmly off the agenda.

What she doesn't count on is falling in with a bunch of party-loving private
school kids who are hiding some dark secrets; falling (possibly) in love with
the local bad boy; and falling out with a dangerous serial killer...

When
aspiring music journalist Ren Kingston takes a job nannying for a
wealthy family on the exclusive island of Nantucket, playground for
Boston's elite, she's hoping for a low-key summer reading books and
blogging about bands. Boys are firmly off the agenda.What she
doesn't count on is falling in with a bunch of party-loving private
school kids who are hiding some dark secrets; falling (possibly) in love
with the local bad boy; and falling out with a dangerous serial
killer... - See more at:
http://books.simonandschuster.co.uk/Sound/Sarah-Alderson/9781471115738#sthash.NVXwlBvc.dpuf

When
aspiring music journalist Ren Kingston takes a job nannying for a
wealthy family on the exclusive island of Nantucket, playground for
Boston's elite, she's hoping for a low-key summer reading books and
blogging about bands. Boys are firmly off the agenda.What she
doesn't count on is falling in with a bunch of party-loving private
school kids who are hiding some dark secrets; falling (possibly) in love
with the local bad boy; and falling out with a dangerous serial
killer... - See more at:
http://books.simonandschuster.co.uk/Sound/Sarah-Alderson/9781471115738#sthash.NVXwlBvc.dpuf

6 Rules for writing swoonworthy boys by Sarah Alderson

I have built a
writing career on hot boys. For some reason I just love to write action
thrillers with kick ass girls and swoontastic boys at their centre. I
put this down to a childhood spent watching Dynasty, Dirty Dancing,
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Alien, Star Wars and Last of the Mohicans.

The
first fictional boy I created was Alex from Hunting Lila and he was
(and is) my dream man. A trained Marine, intelligent, sensitive,
inscrutable, full of integrity and honor…sigh. Then there came quiet,
mysterious Lucas from Fated and finally guitar playing bad boy Jesse
from The Sound. Even though all three are very different, there’s a set
of rules I use when creating my fictional boys.

1. Confident NOT arrogant

Arrogance
is a big no no. If a guy in real life likes to act like he’s God’s
gift, then I’m outta there. A truly

confident guy has no need to act
arrogant. Confidence can be understated or it can veer towards cocky
(Cyrus from Severed is my most overly confident male character but I
like to think his sense of humour saves him from being arrogant. The boy
can back it up!)

2. Protective NOT Stalkerish

I’ve
lost count of the number of books I’ve thrown across the room /
requested a Kindle refund for because I’ve been truly disturbed by the
behavior of the boy who is supposedly ‘hot.’ Being a controlling stalker
is not hot. Let’s have a rethink girls.

3. Smart NOT dumb

A
boy with a brain is a winner. Sometimes authors think that by dressing
up their stalker controlling boy character with a brain and making him
speak three languages that makes him less of an ass. It does not. A boy
who reads, who thinks, who can hold a conversation, who listens – now
that’s sexy.

4. Experienced without being a manwhore

This
is essential because your hot YA boy MUST know how to kiss. It is the
fundamental rule of YA books that the moment your two protags lock lips
the kiss could set the world on fire.

5. Washboard abs

Goes
without saying that this is a top, top priority for any self-respecting
YA male protagonist. Six pack? Make it a twelve pack.

6. A sense of humor

As
in life, a sense of humor is the key, and that can take you anywhere
from sarcasm to gently ironic to joke cracking wordsmith…whatever, your
hot YA boy has got to make you laugh (but is not cruel with his humour).

Thank you for your insight Sarah! Be sure to go check her books out - you won't regret it!

Hi, I'm Nayu!

About me

About me I'm a UK book reviewer who founded NRC in 2009. As well as books I'm addicted to anime, love gaming, and spend time coaxing novels out of my Muse. I'm at the early stage of the path to publication, and will release all news when I have it! ^o^ Sometimes there will be days without posts because I have to deal with chronic illness and chronic pain gremlins. Please be patient in the down times.

Thanks to my passion for languages I like to rest up watching anime in English, French, and Japanese. I also adore gaming and cross stitch. My crochet hobby has evolved in to my Etsy store and blog Nayu's Crochet Dreams, where I sell handmade blankets, dishcloths and other crochet goods.

My cat Belle loves curling on my lap when I read, although she gets a bit crabby when I crochet because she doesn't like the yarn draping over her. Needless to say she doesn't get a say in the matter!

I hope you enjoy Nayu's Reading Corner, which has lots to offer whatever you're interested in.